To a woman wanting to try the natural route with a large fibroid...

I tried the natural route and had some success with acupuncture and chinese medicine. But, when I did finally get pregnant my fibroid doubled in size. You think you are uncomfortable now, just wait as 80% of fibroids will grow during pregnancy.

I really think you should have it out, as scary as that might seem. After they get larger than 4cm they have a hard time getting rid of them through alternative therapy, though I'm sure there are exceptions. It is only because you are already uncomfortable that I'm telling you to have a myo, not every woman with fibroids has ones large enough, or positioned in way that set them out on a bad footing for pregnancy and yours sounds like mine.

I had mine removed in November and it was the size of a grapefruit (ack!) It is a big relief to have the fibroid out of there. Just the psychological stress of managing this fibroid that was going to keep doing its thing was a big burden. When I thought about getting pregnant with it in place again I just about had a panic attack, it was really uncomfortable and mine didn't have any degeneration.

I wish they would give out MRIs more easily as I think if I had seen how it was really positioned I might have had the surgery sooner. My fibroid was located right up against, but not engaging with, the endometrium. I don't regret waiting though since my miscarriage experience helped prepare me mentally for the surgery.

Here are some quotes from Johanna Skilling's book Fibroids about how fibroids can contribute to infertility:

"If a fibroid causes a miscarriage it's more likely to happen in the first or second trimester; in fact, fibroids can cause miscarriage so early on, you migh not even realize you are pregnant. Later in pregnancy, fibroids tend to cause pain or preterm contractions rather than miscarriage"

"How can fibroids cause miscarriage?...either by distorting the uterine cavity or by altering the blood flow that would normally be needed to nourish the growing fetus."

"Fibroids can release chemicals called prostaglandins, the hormone that triggers pain...Prostaglandins can also induce contractions of smooth-muscle tissue"

"...the cells of a fibroid divide faster than the "normal" cells in your body...This rapid cell division can trigger a response from your immune system--sending the body's natural defenses to try to deal with the perceived invader. This reaction is bad news for another "alien" in your body -- your fertilized egg."

What should I do?

So I still have retained POC (products of conception) from my miscarriage in July. It is likely that my fibroid has contributed to this situation by not allowing my uterus to contract as well as it might (8x10cm intramural fibroid, uterus wrapped around fibroid). My RE wants to go in with a hysteroscope to aid in the removal of the 2x3cm piece of tissue in my endometrium -- the fibroid doesn't allow for a very clear image of what is there.

She mentioned that while I'm under she could remove my fibroid as well. It isn't the largest fibroid that she's operated on, but it isn't small either. She thinks that if I have the surgery done now I should be all right to travel to Ecuador for Christmas -- about 6 weeks post-op -- to go on a birding tour.

My fibroid hasn't shrunk at all since August, though it is smaller than the largest measurement right before my d&c of 9x11x11cm or so. On the day I got my BFP it measured 6.5x7 -- so it is now twice as large and I'm feeling it everyday.

Tthis RE does surgery twice a week only and I like her, she's been practicing since 1983 and does on average one myo a month -- but she's regularly doing reproductive surgeries. I'm feeling pretty good about her and she said that she would consider my desire for a vaginal birth as she did the surgery.

If you were going to be put under right now for another procedure would you opt to have your large fibroid removed as well?

Frankincense and Fibroids?

I found this page while surfing that mentions some additional herbal treatments, what got me curious was that this one mentioned frankincense which is one of the ingredients in the chinese herbs my acupuncturist had me taking in the spring -- when my fibroid shrank.

http://www.nspforum.com/faq/bbs.cgi?read=938

I started acupuncture treatment in January and had an ultrasound a couple weeks later to help provide a baseline measurement. My fibroid at the beginning of February was 6x6.5x9cm which was larger, mostly longer than the 5.9x6cm in September 2002 when it was discovered, or 6x7cm in March 2003. I started on herbs in March and took them for about 6-7 weeks only, all the while going for weekly hour-long acupuncture treatments. I stopped taking the herbs because I had an issue with bad bleeding during my period which freaked me out, these are strong herbs and not to be used during pregnancy or during menses. My acupuncturist said the herbs are intended to "break the blood". I scheduled a follow-up ultrasound for the beginning of June and as it would happen I had a positive pregnancy test that same morning. My fibroid was back to 6x7 though the ultrasound was not taken on cycle day 3 since my period never arrived. I'm amazed that there was that much of a change.

Here are the ingredients in my supplement, TumoSolv which is formulated by LongLife (http://drhuang.biz/LongLifeMaster.asp):

Bureed tuber, Zedoary, Fritillary tuber, Prunella, Sargassum, Frankincense, Myrrh, Angelica

I don't know if they sell to the public but I would advise anyone interested in trying it to seek treatment though a licensed practitioner of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture.

My fibroid is still enlarged from my pregnancy, my body is still producing beta HCG though it is slowly dropping. I'm back in weekly acupuncture treatment and soon I'll start using the herbs once again.

I just thought I would share since I did try very hard to be controlled in my evaluation of my fibroid size before and after treatment and I did have positive results. I hope that this gives you hope and inspiration as well.

I'm back and I survived. Overall I have to say it was a relief to finally have this d&c done. I think it was all the prayers that helped make this easier for me. Thank you!

My doctor was great, so careful and conservative. He definitely has a lot of experience working in that area. The nurses were awesome; they were so nice and caring. The procedure was done in the operatory suite where they retrieve eggs for IVF patients. The nurses gave me warmed blankets over my shoulders and stomach and kept my legs and feet warm with towels as well.

Having had a more than typically painful HSG last year, I think that I was better prepared for the sensations which were similar but just more and longer. When I had my HSG the RE tried to help stretch out my uterus for better films, the uterus being wrapped around the fibroid. She did this by pressing the speculum in different directions which pulled on the ligaments I guess. I had cramps for days afterwards. I also have periodic pelvic pain from my fibroid so again, this wasn't shocking to me. If I had never had any such discomfort in my life it probably would have been worse. The nurses and doctor all said that I was a great patient with a good pain tolerance. They asked if I did yoga, I told them that I danced -- I think they were amazed that I could sit in stirrups for so long as it took a while for us to get started.

The worst thing was that it took 3 tries to get the IV started and I left the hospital with bandages on both arms.

My partner was there in with me the entire time which was a great relief, more than I would have supposed. Once the sedatives kicked in I kept babbling on and on about all kinds of things although mostly about how odd this experience was.

Yesterday afternoon I came home and took a nap on the couch for a while. Then my sister and one of my best friends came over and spent time with me for a few hours. my partner and I walked down the street for a late dinner at 9pm. I mostly felt tired.

I feel a little crampy today and I've had just a minor amount of spotting so far. My temp was a little elevated this morning so I'll keep an eye on that. It might just be my thyroid trying to adjust itself at this point.

I actually have less pelvic pain now than I did before the procedure, I think that is because of my fibroid already distending the uterus. My breasts are also starting to soften slightly -- yippee! My doc is still cool with me TTC with the fibroid intact. I did find out that he is leaving the hospital to go out on his own at the end of the month. He'll only be 30 minutes away in Everett, WA but still I'm bummed since that is a hike and it took so long to find someone I like and trust.

I have some tears trapped inside of me still, I know they will come out sooner or later but I'm doing pretty good over all. A little numb maybe but I feel like a survivor.